In the initial days of June, Amul and Mother Dairy hiked their prices of milk by Rs 2 per litre. Soon after, dairy brands across different states also increased their price. Similarly, Karnataka’s renowned milk brand, Nandini began to charge Rs 2 more on its milk packets, which was met by a huge protest in the state. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah defended the move. On Tuesday, the Karnataka Cooperative Milk Producers Federation (KMF) announced that the price of milk under the brand of Nandini will be hiked by Rs 2 per litre from June 26 onwards. That’s not all. To make sure customers do not suffer much, the KMF decided to increase the volume. So each 500 ml and one-litre milk packet will have an additional 50 ml in it.
The KMF further defended its moves claiming that the revised prices are still lower than the competitors like co-operatives and milk brands sold in other states of the country. Siddaramaiah defended the move claiming it to be in the interest of the farmers. As per report, the CM claimed that the milk prices have not been increased. One media portal quoted him, “The quantity has been enhanced and, proportionate to the increased quantity, the price has been hiked. Last year, during the same time milk (production) was 90 lakh litres (per day), now it is more than 99 lakh litres. We have to procure milk from farmers, we cannot say no to them, the milk is produced and it has to be marketed. So we have enhanced the half-litre milk packet quantity by 50 ml.”
He further added that the quantity has been increased and the price is proportionate to the increased quantity. The cost of 50 ml extra in the 500 ml and one-litre packet is Rs 2.10 and the government has hiked it to Rs 2. He demanded to know how exactly it is a price hike. “Can we throw away milk that has been produced? Can we say to farmers we will not procure from them?”, he questioned.
When the Chief Minister was asked if this would lead to restaurants increasing the prices of coffee and tea, Siddaramaiah responded that they could not hike the prices of the milk-based beverages because the prices of the milk have not (technically) increased. They will be able to hike the charges when the milk prices increase. Deputy CM DK Shivakumar claimed that this move is aimed at benefiting the farmers.
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